Oat Genotypes Research Articles

Barberry plays an active role as an alternate host of Puccinia graminis in Spain.

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis, is a destructive group of diseases. The pathogen uses Berberis species as alternate hosts to complete its life cycle. B. vulgaris and the endemic species B. hispanica and B. garciae are present in Spain. The objective of this study was to investigate the functionality of the indigenous barberry as alternate hosts. Field surveys were conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Huesca, Teruel and Albacete provinces of Spain. Aecial samples on barberry were analysed via infection assays and DNA analysis. B. garciae was predominant in Huesca and Teruel provinces, often found in the field margins of cereal crops. Aecial infections on B. garciae were observed in May and uredinial infections on cereal crops in June. Scattered B. hispanica bushes were occasionally found near cereal crops in Albacete, where aecial infections on B. hispanica were observed in June when most cereal crops were mature. Infection assays using aeciospores resulted in stem rust infections on susceptible genotypes of wheat, barley, rye and oat, indicating the presence of the sexual cycle for P. graminis f. sp. tritici, f. sp. secalis and f. sp. avenae. Sequence analyses from aecial samples supported this finding as well as the presence of Puccinia brachypodii. This study provides the first evidence that indigenous Berberis species play an active role in the sexual cycle of P. graminis under natural conditions in Spain.

Variation in Grain Mineral Contents of Oat Genotypes Grown at Six Locations

Variation in Grain Mineral Contents of Oat Genotypes Grown at Six Locations

Determining Some Quality Properties of Oat Genotypes Collected from the Middle and West Black Sea Region

Healthy foodstuffs, including functional foods, are the key component of a healthy and prosperous life. Oat grains are rich in protein, soluble dietary fiber, β-glucan, starch, oil, some vitamins and minerals, and thus accepted as a healthy foodstuff. This study was conducted to determine physical and chemical quality traits of many different oat landraces/cultivars. In this study, 251 local oat genotypes, collected from 10 provinces of Western and Middle Black Sea Regions of Turkey and four standard oat cultivars were grown over the experimental fields of the Agricultural Application and Research Center at Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University for two years in an augmented experimental design. As a result of the research, the screenings percentage >2 mm ranged from 69.81 to 95.80%, thousand grain weight from 18.55 to 38.41 g, protein content from 8.82 to 14.81%, starch content from 33.15 to 51.32, β-glucan content from 2.44 to 3.93%, acid detergent fibre value from 18.1 to 18.95%, and neutral detergent fibre value from 27.83 to 36.66%. Also, the local oat genotypes exhibited significant variations in fat content (3.70–7.91%), linoleic acid content (31.89–38.37%), oleic acid content (35.03–44.77%), palmitic acid content (18.26–22.87%), and stearic acid content (1.50–1.96%). According to the biplot, it was determined that the investigated quality traits differed according to the genotypes collected from the provinces. Also, these results can be used for selection of precious pure lines and improvement of new varieties for oat breeding programs.

Nitrogen Management and its Effect on Fodder Yield and Quality of Multicut Oat (Avena sativa L.) Genotypes in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand (India)

Nitrogen Management and its Effect on Fodder Yield and Quality of Multicut Oat (Avena sativa L.) Genotypes in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand (India)

Lignans in Oat and Barley Grains Depending on Genotype and Farming Practice

Abstract Cereals are an important source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, and various phytochemicals, such as plant lignans. Lignans are a group of phenolic compounds that are commonly found in plants as their secondary metabolites. Lignans, found also in foodstuffs such as grains and seeds, are biologically active antioxidants, which reduce the occurrence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and prevent the progression of breast and prostate cancer. The aim of the study was to determine concentrations of lignans in different barley and oat genotypes grown under organic and conventional farming practices. Samples were collected in 2013 und 2014. The concentration of lignans was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The highest concentration of total lignans was found in oat grains: 507.1 ± 3.0 (509.2 in 2013 and 505.0 in 2014) µg·100−1g. In barley grains, total lignin concentration was 425.2 ± 30.3 (403.8 in 2013 and 446.6 in 2014) µg·100−1g were detected. Concentration of some lignans, like HO-Mata, Lari and Pino, was higher both in oat (450.0, 3323 and 1159.8 µg·kg−1, respectively) and barley grain (334.3, 3297 and 334.4 µg·kg−1, respectively). The lignan concentration in studied oat and barley samples did not differ significant depending on cultivation practice.

Reaction of Oat Genotypes to Fusarium equiseti (Corda) Sacc. Infection and Mycotoxin Concentrations in Grain

Fusarium head blight and the contamination of cereals with toxic fungal metabolites are particularly important problems in global agriculture. The increasingly frequent isolation of F. equiseti from cereal grain and the sparse information in the literature on the harmfulness of this fungus to oat encouraged us to conduct the present research. The aim of the study was to determine the susceptibility of oat genotypes to panicle infection by F. equiseti and mycotoxin content in the grain. Field experiments involving 10 oat genotypes were conducted over three years (2015–2017). Oat panicles were inoculated with a conidial suspension of F. equiseti, which reduced the kernels yield by 38.34%, the number of kernels per panicle by 31.16% and 1000 kernels weight by 12.66%. F. equiseti accumulated type A trichothecenes (T-2 and HT-2 toxins, scirpentriol, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 triol, T-2 tetraol) and type B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, 3Ac-DON, 15Ac-DON, nivalenol, fusarenone X) in kernels at an average level of 0.0616 and 0.2035 mg·kg−1, respectively. The highest susceptibility to scabs caused by F. equiseti was found for genotype POB 4901/10, whereas cv. Elegant exhibited the highest resistance to F. equiseti in terms of yield reduction after inoculation.

Biochemical assessment of oat genotypes revealed variability in grain quality with nutrition and crop improvement implications

Oat is a potent source of nutrients and bioactive compounds offering potential health benefits and role in combating micronutrient malnutrition problems. To exploit nutritional and quality traits of oats, a biochemical assessment of 112 oat genotypes was conducted. The high range of variability for total phenol (1.7–31.3 mg/g), β-glucan (1.0–8.0 mg/g), calcium (1.91–4.34 mg/g), zinc (3.80–6.50 mg/100 g), iron (0.66–4.89 mg/100 g) and manganese (2.88–8.0 mg/100 g) was revealed among genotypes. A higher amount of iron and zinc was found in genotypes OS-6, HFO-638, HFO-915 & HFO-918, whereas, elevated levels of manganese and zinc were recorded in genotypes OS-403 & OL-1804. The results revealed groups of low phytic acid oat genotypes containing high crude protein (HFO-52, HFO-270, HFO-330), β-glucan (HFO-62, HFO-588, HFO-926). A significant positive correlation was obtained between copper with iron, manganese, and calcium content. These findings could be useful for developing value-added oat food products and novel oat varieties.

Screening of the hatching control of root-knot nematodes using extract concentrations from oat genotypes

Even though oats (Avena spp.) have the capacity to produce numerous compounds with the potential to act antagonistically against plant pathogens, studies on the genotypic effect of this crop focusing on their nematicidal activity are limited. The objective of this study was to verify the effect of the aqueous extracts prepared with the biomass of oat genotypes, on the hatching of second-stage juveniles of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita). The bioassays were carried out in a completely randomized design with four replications. Eighteen extracts were evaluated, consisting of a combination of six oat genotypes Agro Quaraí, Agro Esteio, Embrapa 139, AF 12202, UPFPS Farroupilha, and AF 1345 Ucraniana, and three extract concentrations (5 %, 10 %, and 20 % w/v). Three additional treatments were added to the study (distilled water, chemical nematicides abamectin, and imidacloprid + thiodicarb). The treatments and the suspension containing nematode eggs were placed in Petri dishes and incubated in a growth chamber for ten days. At the 5 % and 10 % w/v concentration levels, a genotype effect was observed in the hatching of juveniles for both nematode species. For the control of M. javanica the extracts of Embrapa 139 had a better performance, while the extracts of Agro Quaraí and AF1345 Ucraniana performed better when under the control of M. incognita. Thus, oat biomass formation might have the ability to suppress the nematode population in the soil, and could therefore, be used for the management of root-knot nematodes.

Delineating the Genetic Diversity in Oat Genotypes through Multivariate Analysis for Utilization in Breeding Program

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is an important multi-purpose crop, cultivated for fodder, feed and grain purpose. Earlier oat was used for forage purpose but now with increasing health related issues as well as food security under changing climatic conditions; this crop has been emerged as sustainable dual purpose crop. Oat has emerged as a beneficial grain cereal for human consumption. Generally diverse individuals are likely to produce more heterotic effects during the crossing programme and desirable segregants are also produced. Therefore, in this present research, a total of 56 genotypes were evaluated for sixteen yield and yield contributing traits. K-means clustering and principal component analysis was done using R studio software. From clustering the genotypes were grouped in 4 cluster. Out of which cluster 1 and cluster 3 were most diverse. Highest cluster mean value for maximum traits was observed for cluster 3 as well. Principal component analysis showed that PF-1 and PF-2 was regarded as most important for yield factors. It was seen that PF-1 was loaded on seed yield, axis length and days to 50% flowering while PF-2 on green fodder yield, dry matter yield and plant height. Biplot depicted that variation in traits dry matter yield, green fodder yield, days to 50% flowering, seed yield and plant height was contributed by both principal component. Genotypes selected from diverse clusters can be incorporated in hybridization crop improvement programme.

Estimation of Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance and Character Association in Oat (Avena sativa L.) Genotypes for Fodder and Seed Yield Attributing Traits

With increasing population and health-related problems, more emphasis is given to substitutes for generally grown cereal crops. It is widely cultivated for forage purposes because of its high regenerating capability. Oat grain has tremendous health benefits. Therefore the study of variability and correlation among yield contributing traits becomes important. Keeping this in view, in the present research sixteen morphological traits were studied for fifty six diverse oat genotypes. The experiment was conducted in RCBD design during Rabi 2017-2018. Significant variation was seen for all the traits under study. High GCV and PCV were seen for most of the most of traits except plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for most of the characters viz., flag leaf length, leaf length, leaf width, leaf stem ratio, internode length, number of tillers plant-1, peduncle length, axis length, number of spikelets plant-1, seed yield plant-1, 100-seed weight, green fodder plant-1 and dry fodder plant-1. Genotypes namely HFO878, HFO-614, HFO-879 and HFO-707 showed good performance for both seed yield as well as green fodder yield. A study of variability, genetic advance, heritability and correlation will provide an opportunity for fruitful selection of the genotypes based on traits with high genetic advance and heritability and showing positive significant correlation with economic yield. Among the different traits which showed positive significant correlation with seed yield and green fodder yield, interestingly tillers plant-1 showed positive significant correlation both.

Oat development in response to temperature

ABSTRACT: Temperature affects plant development therefore phyllochron has been used as a predictor for developmental events to define the time for agricultural managing practices. This study aims to evaluate changes in phyllochron and thermal sum required for flowering by oat genotypes developed at different decades at three temperature regimes; the effect of high temperature on phytomere development; and identify the development stage at the moment of meristem transition to reproductive stage. Three environments were obtained by sowing in the fall, in the spring, and under constant temperature (17oC), always at inductive photoperiod. Despite changes in nominal values small differences were found among genotypes’ phyllochron. Adding specific optimal and maximum temperatures into the growing degree days’ calculation demonstrated phyllochron stability among environments. Plant cycle length and thermal sum correlated with the number of developed phytomeres. UFRGS 078030-2 plants flowered earlier, had a small number of phytomeres, and greater tolerance to elevated temperatures than the other genotypes. More recent genotypes transit to reproductive stage at an earlier Haun stage than older ones.

Genetic diversity for mineral element in seeds of Turkish oat landraces

Oat grain is an important cereal in the human diet and as an animal feed. It is cultivated in many regions of the world. This study was carried out to determine the variability in the element content of these oat gene sources collected from the West and Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey. Two hundred and fifty-six oat genotypes were examined under this study. The mean of mineral elements in landraces and commercial cultivars were 40.39 g kg-1 and 36.16 g kg-1 for K, 23.90 g kg-1 and 28.51 g kg-1 for P, 12.47 g kg-1 and 10.99 g kg-1 for Mg, 10.92 g kg-1 and 10.96 g kg-1 for Ca, 2.58 g kg-1 and 2.36 g kg-1 for Na, 54.70 mg kg-1 and 53.02 mg kg-1 for Fe, 32.08 mg kg-1 and 23.51 mg kg-1 for Mn, 25.39 mg kg-1 and 24.05 mg kg-1 for Zn and 8.26 mg kg-1 and 8.07 mg kg-1 for Cu, respectively. The ranges of mineral elements in the landraces were significantly higher than those in the commercial cultivars. The contributions of the first and second principal components (PC1 and PC2) to the total variation were 43.0% and 15.6%, respectively. These results indicate that examined oat landraces can provide a good source of diversity in mineral elements concentration and could be successfully used in biofortification programs.

STUDY OF PHENOTYPIC VARIABILITY USING THE VARIETAL DIVERSITY OF CULTIVATED FORMS OF NAKED AND HULLED OATS IN THE INTERCROPPING SYSTEM

The research carried out at the Gene Bank in Suceava, Northern Romania, aimed to highlight the phenotypic variability of the germplasm of Avena spp. For this purpose, the morpho-productive traits and resistance to diseases, pests and weeds were analysed. Productivity, diseases and pests, days to heading and days to maturity descriptors of 46 Avena spp. genotypes (naked and hulled oat) with different biological statuses (36 local populations, 10 cultivars), were evaluated by testing in intercropping experiments with small grain cereals and grain legumes. The unidirectional ANOVA analysis generated values that allowed the elaboration of a hierarchy of heterogeneity in the hulled local populations, for some of the analysed characters (one thousand seeds weight/genotype, degree of attack by Puccinia coronata and Oulema melanopa and days to maturity) and these were less in naked forms. There was a high competition of Avena species, regarding weeds in small grain cereal variants and potentially beneficial for nitrogen symbiotic fixation by increasing naked and hulled local oat population productivity in intercropping with fava bean. The Euclidean distance classification of the oat genotypes investigated in the dendrogram distinguished the generated groups, indicating the maximum distance in cluster IV. With high heterogeneity of productivity traits, better resistance to disease and pests, and shorter maturity, members of this cluster could be used to develop genetic mixture programs.

Genome–wide association mapping for heading date in oats under subtropical environments

Selection for heading date has been a decisive factor to increase areas cropped with oats in Brazil. Although important to oat breeders, genomic regions controlling heading date have not been completely identified. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions controlling oat heading date in subtropical environments. A set of 412 oat genotypes, developed from 1974 to 2015, was assessed for heading date in contrasting environments and genotyped using genotyping–by–sequencing (GBS). Phenotypic and genotypic data were used in single and multi–environment association models. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated to heading date were identified on oat consensus groups Mrg02, Mrg05, Mrg06, Mrg12, and Mrg21. Some of the findings confirmed the association of genomic regions with heading date, while others emerge as new candidate regions associated to the trait. The genomic regions identified on Mrg02 and Mrg12 were associated to Vernalization 3 (Vrn3), while the genomic region identified on Mrg21 is associated with Vernalization 1 (Vrn1). The Vrn1 region was detected in Londrina, an environment with reduced vernalization condition, and in the multi–environment model. The results reveal that some genotypes of the panel are responsive to vernalization, increasing the days to heading without this environmental stimulus. Our results provide important contribution for a better understanding of heading date in subtropical environments and a strong basis for marker–assisted selection in oats.

Effect of additional water supply during grain filling on protein composition and epitope characteristics of winter oats

Pure oats in gluten-free diets (GFD) represent important nutritional benefits for people suffering from celiac disease (CD). However, oat cultivars do not contain the typical CD-related wheat gliadin analog polypeptides. Emerging evidence suggests that oat cultivars containing gluten-like epitopes in avenin sequences may pose potential health risks for celiac patients in rare cases, depending on the individual’s susceptibility. Consequently, it is necessary to screen oats in terms of protein and epitope composition, to be able to select safe varieties for gluten-free applications. The overall aim of our study is to investigate the variation of oat protein composition directly related to health-related and techno-functional properties and to examine how the protein compositional parameters change due to irrigation during the grain-filling period as compared to the natural rain-fed grown, in a large winter oat population of different geographic origin.Elements of an oat sample population representing 164 winter oat varieties from 8 countries and the protein composition of resulting samples have been characterized. Size distribution of the total protein extracts has been analyzed by SE-HPLC, while the 70% ethanol extracted proteins were analyzed by RP-HPLC. Protein extracts are separated into 3 main groups of fractions on the SE-HPLC column; polymeric, avenin, and non-avenin monomeric protein groups, representing 59.17–80.87%, 12.89–31.03%, and 3.40–9.41% of total protein content, respectively. The ratio of polymeric to monomeric proteins varied between 1.71 and 6.07. 91 RP-HPLC-separated peaks have been differentiated from the ethanol extractable proteins of the entire population.The various parameters identified a lot of variation, confirming the significance of genotypic variation. In addition, it was also established that the additional water supply during grain filling significantly affected the various quantitative parameters of protein content, but not its qualitative structure. This environmental effect, however, was strongly genotype-dependent. Winter oat genotypes with low levels of epitope content were identified and it was proven that these characteristics were independent of the environmental factor of water availability. These genotypes are appropriate for initiating a specific breeding program to yield oat cultivars suitable for CD patients.

Strategic positioning of white oat genotypes in the organic system

The objective of this work was to select, under the Bayesian perspective, white oat genotypes that have high phenotypic adaptability and stability for the organic system. The study was carried out in four different environments Itapúa in Paraguay and Palotina, Candói and Três Passos in Brazil, in the 2019 crop season. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, organized in a 4x7 factorial scheme, with four environments and seven white oat genotypes (URS Taura, URS Corona, URS Brava, URS Altiva, UFPA Ouro, IPR Artemis and IPR Afrodite) arranged in 4 repetitions per environment. The following characters were evaluated: final plant population, plant height, days until flowering, days until maturation, lodging and grain yield. The use of the Bayesian method provides greater accuracy in the selection of white oat genotypes with high phenotypic adaptability and stability. The genotypes URS Brava, IPR Aphrodite and UPFA Ouro are classified as highly adaptable to unfavorable environments. The genotypes IPR Artemis, URS Corona and URS Taura exhibited high adaptability to favorable environments. The URS Brava genotype is the ideal genotype and can be placed in any environments. The characters plant height and days from emergence to flowering can be used in indirect selection for grain productivity.

Metabolic adjustments in forage oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes under different sowing windows.

The current investigation was aimed to study the influence of planting dates (9 Oct, 24 Oct, 13 Nov, 26 Nov, 11 Dec, and 26 Dec) and maturity stages (40, 50, and 60 DAS) on nitrogen metabolic enzymes and biochemical constituents. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design during thewinter season of 2019 by using two oat genotypes (OL-10 and OL-11) with variable growing ability. The activity pattern of studied enzymes revealed upregulated nitrate assimilation during optimum (Oct 24) and sub-optimum (Oct 9 and Nov 13) planting dates but areverse trend was observed during late planting dates; LPD (Nov 26, Dec 11, and Dec 26). The environmental constraints during LPD resulted in theaccrual of nitrate above toxic levels (> 2000ppm). The regression analysis depicted asignificant relationship of nitrate assimilating enzymes and nitrate-N with temperature and sunshine hour. Examination of ammonia assimilation and transaminases suggested that the enzyme activities got uplifted during late planting dates but were stable or slightly low at optimum and sub-optimum ones. Additionally, OL-10 proved to be an N-efficient genotype in comparison with theOL-11 genotype because of its high N assimilation potential. Therefore, gaining a better understanding of planting time is crucial for sustainable livestock production.

Deciphering Main Climate and Edaphic Components Driving Oat Adaptation to Mediterranean Environments.

Oat, Avena sativa, is an important crop traditionally grown in cool-temperate regions. However, its cultivated area in the Mediterranean rim steadily increased during the last 20 years due to its good adaptation to a wide range of soils. Nevertheless, under Mediterranean cultivation conditions, oats have to face high temperatures and drought episodes that reduce its yield as compared with northern regions. Therefore, oat crop needs to be improved for adaptation to Mediterranean environments. In this work, we investigated the influence of climatic and edaphic variables on a collection of 709 Mediterranean landraces and cultivars growing under Mediterranean conditions. We performed genotype–environment interaction analysis using heritability-adjusted genotype plus genotype–environment biplot analyses to determine the best performing accessions. Further, their local adaptation to different environmental variables and the partial contribution of climate and edaphic factors to the different agronomic traits was determined through canonical correspondence, redundancy analysis, and variation partitioning. Here, we show that northern bred elite cultivars were not among the best performing accessions in Mediterranean environments, with several landraces outyielding these. While all the best performing cultivars had early flowering, this was not the case for all the best performing landraces, which showed different patterns of adaption to Mediterranean agroclimatic conditions. Thus, higher yielding landraces showed adaptation to moderate to low levels of rain during pre- and post-flowering periods and moderate to high temperature and radiation during post-flowering period. This analysis also highlights landraces adapted to more extreme environmental conditions. The study allowed the selection of oat genotypes adapted to different climate and edaphic factors, reducing undesired effect of environmental variables on agronomic traits and highlights the usefulness of variation partitioning for selecting genotypes adapted to specific climate and edaphic conditions.

Formation of Potential Heterotic Groups of Oat Using Variation at Microsatellite Loci.

An evaluation of polymorphism at the microsatellite loci was applied in distinguishing 85 oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes selected from the collection of genetic resources. The set of genotypes included oats with white, yellow, and brown seeds as well as a subgroup of naked oat (Avena sativa var. nuda Koern). Variation at these loci was used to form potential heterotic groups potentially used in the oat breeding program. Seven from 20 analyzed microsatellite loci revealed polymorphism. Altogether, 35 microsatellite alleles were detected (2–10 per locus). Polymorphic patterns completely differentiated all genotypes within the subgroups of white, brown, and naked oats, respectively. Only within the greatest subgroup of yellow genotypes, four pairs of genotypes remained unseparated. Genetic differentiation between the oat subgroups allowed the formation of seven potential heterotic groups using the STRUCTURE analysis. The overall value of the fixation index (Fst) suggested a high genetic differentiation between the subgroups and validated a heterotic grouping. This approach can be implemented as a simple predictor of heterosis in parental crosses prior to extensive field testing or development and implementation of more accurate genomic selection.

Yüksek Kaliteli Kışlık Yulaf Çeşitlerinin Geliştirilmesi

The objective of national oat breeding program is to develop the oat varieties with high yielding, resistant to diseases, drought, cold, and heat stresses and suitable for different usages (food, feed, and forage). To achieve that goal, a total of 284 (232 lines + 52 checks) oat genotypes were tested under rain-fed conditions at the yield, advanced yield, and elite yield trials conducted between 2008 and 2012. During the consecutive oat breeding cycles, genotypes with high yielding and acceptable quality were promoted. Among the quality traits, protein content (PC), oil content (OC), and test weight (TW) were preferred as selection criteria. Heritability (H) and correlation coefficients were estimated for the GY and quality characteristics of the genotypes tested. While the H for GY was low (0.38), Hs for quality traits (PC, OC, and TW) were medium (0.66, 0.68, and 0.57, respectively). As for the correlations between the traits of interest, the statistically significant positive relationships were observed between GY and OC, GY and TW, and OC and TW. In contrast, statistically significant negative associations were measured between GY and PC, PC and OC, and PC and TW. Negative relationships and low-medium H values calculated for the traits studied appear to be the most critical obstacles for national oat breeding program. To tackle these obstacles, the parents, i.e., gene pool, used in the oat crossing block should be characterized as soon as possible and enriched with introducing new exotic germplasm. We believe that by doing so, we can develop high yielding and high-quality oat varieties.